IFB Beat – Week of April 3, 2023

A Message from the Editor

Anastasia PowellIf you’ve ever wondered who puts The Beat together each week, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Anastasia Powell, and I’m the manager of communications for IFB Solutions. I began to lose my sight when I was 13 and lost my vision completely in my 20s. I haven’t always worked in the marketing and communications department; I started at IFB in 2005 as a sewing machine operator in t-shirts. I became involved in support groups, skill-building workshops, and other extracurricular activities which led me to our programs department where I learned even more about our business. From there I joined the communications team in 2020.

Today, editing The Beat is one small part of my job but I love to get the most important updates in front of you. And there’s been plenty to share as our CEO Dan Kelly and the executive team outline their plans to transform our business for the future. Launching today, I’ve worked with my marketing counterparts to update the index at the beginning of The Beat, as well as reduce the amount of news repeated from prior weeks. Please let me know what you think.

If you didn’t know, The Beat is texted to your mobile number listed in your Paycom file. You can also listen in on the IFB Beat English line, 336-245-5691 or Spanish line, 336-245-5663. I also email the link each Monday morning to all @ifbsolutions.org email users and to employees who have submitted their personal email to Faith Harding (submit yours to fharding@ifbsolutions.org).

You can reach me any time at apowell@ifbsolutions.org or extension 5698. Have a great week!

Anastasia

Quick Links:

Updates from Senior Leadership

– Important Update about IFB Solutions’ Winston-Salem Area Properties
– Coffee with the CEO Update

Reminders from Prior Editions of The Beat

– Attend the Vanda Pharmaceuticals presentation on Non-24 Disorder April 5 and 6
– Let’s all support VIPS 2 Minute Table Topics contest on April 4 at noon in TADS room
– Sign Up Now! Volunteers Needed: Winston-Salem Red Cross Blood Drive, April 12 10:00am-2:00pm
– IFB Dress Code Reminder

New this Week

– See what S.E.E. is doing!
– Adult support group meeting schedule
– CLVC Item of the Week

From Our Community

– New single from Oryan Battis
– Try Metrolina Association for the Blind Virtual Yoga and Tai Chi Classes, FREE!
– Join Metrolina Association for the Blind for Apple Support Hour!

HR and Opportunities

– New Job Announcements

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

Updates from Senior Leadership

Important update about the IFB Solutions Winston-Salem Properties

Headshot of Dan KellyI want to thank each of you for your continued support as we pursue important strategic initiatives for our organization.

While IFB’s business is always changing to meet the needs of our customers, our commitment to creating and sustaining jobs for people who are blind is unshakable. Today, I am announcing a significant activity the leadership team and board of directors is taking to ensure we have the facilities needed to meet that commitment for decades to come.

IFB Solutions is pursuing the sale of our Winston-Salem manufacturing property on North Point Drive with an immediate 3-year lease-back. This means we would no longer own this property but will instead lease it for a term of 3 years. Tracy’s Little Red Schoolhouse on Phoenix Drive will remain under IFB ownership and we are continuing to lease our Clemmons distribution center and our Indiana Avenue warehouse. (For a history of those properties, see timeline below)

Importantly, we do not anticipate your day-to-day activities or access to IFB programs and services to be impacted by our transition from owning to leasing the Winston-Salem facility. For the organization, the new lease-back arrangement will inject working capital into our business and set a 3-year clock to determine the ideal configuration of facilities to most effectively carry out our mission for the future.

Our ultimate vision is bringing together our Winston-Salem area manufacturing, distribution center and warehouse operations onto one campus. This will greatly increase our operational efficiency while reducing material stock-outs on the production lines. For example, when running out of a critical material component to do your job, this would mean that the new material could be delivered to you within minutes instead of waiting for something to come from the Clemmons warehouse.

With any future change in our physical locations, our priority will be accessibility. This includes transportation and the overall layout of a new campus and interior spaces. We’re committed to offering on-site medical support, Canteen food services, our Community Low Vision Center and multi-purpose space for support groups and other programs.

Our intent is to be transparent in this process. As we have updates on the sale, or our progress to find a new location we’ll share it. In the coming days and weeks, you may see “for sale” signage from Cushman & Wakefield around the Winston-Salem manufacturing facility, or even news articles about the property sale. This will be part of the process until this facility is sold and the lease-back begins.

Please continue to read or listen to The Beat for information and updates on our strategic initiatives. If you have questions, I encourage you to send those to Anastasia Powell, IFB Solutions Communications Manager, at apowell@ifbsolutions.org.

Sincerely,

Dan Kelly and the IFB Solutions Executive Team

A History of the IFB Solutions Winston-Salem properties

  • 1982 Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind opens the Northpoint Drive facility
  • 2002 Northpoint Drive facilities is expanded to add the optical lab, cafeteria, TAD’s Room and Community Low Vision Center
  • 2010 IFB purchases a warehouse in Clemmons for distribution operations
  • 2016 IFB leases additional office space at 2050 Northpoint Drive (“The Annex”)
  • 2018 IFB sells the Clemmons distribution center and begins leasing the facility
  • 2020 IFB leases warehouse space on Indiana Avenue to support expanded space needs due to the Pinnacle Mercantile Amazon business

 

Winston-Salem Facility Coffee with the CEO

Our first meeting with the CEO was a great success! There was 45 minutes of good conversation and employees enjoyed sharing a little about themselves and getting to know Dan Kelly on a personal level. Over coffee and doughnuts employees shared their thoughts and got many questions answered about their department and IFB.

Dan is excited to get to know all of you and continue to answer any burning questions. We know it will take many, many meetings to get through everyone, and anticipate this lasting over several months. We thank you in advance for your patience through this process. So, stay tuned as we schedule your time to talk to the CEO!

 

New this Week

See what S.E.E. is Doing

red coocoo clock with index card shutters and clock face, twine and pine cone winding chain, and tactile stickers to represent wood carvings

S.E.E. After School travelled to Germany where we enjoyed a hot pretzel, some sweet strudel, heard a song in German, and made coocoo clocks out of macaroni boxes.

Adult Support Group Meetings:

  • Monday, April 3 AAA Committee meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Tuesday, April 4 VIPS Club meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Wednesday, April 5 RP support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
  • Thursday, April 6 Sight Adjustment support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

 

CLVC Item of the Week:

Tactile Push-Button Combination Padlock- Black for $9.95. The combination lock you can operate by touch.

  • Tactile numbers for touch reading.
  • 4-digit combination lock.
  • Black color with hardened steel, chrome-plated shackle.
  • Lifetime guarantee.

CLVC April Item of the Month:

BoldWriter 20 Pen Easy-To-See BoldPoint- Black for $1.29. The superior pen for those without 20-20 vision.

  • This replacement for the discontinued 20/20 Pen is easy-to-see and read with incredibly vivid, high-visibility black ink.
  • Quick-drying— NO smudges and doesn’t bleed through paper.
  • Bold point produces highly legible line width— ideal for low vision and visually impaired users.
  • Easy-to-grip design— great for seniors and those with dexterity issues.
  • Superior quality— Made in the USA.

If you are interested in purchasing Low Vision Equipment through our Loan Program (3rd Party), please contact a Low Vision Coordinator for assistance.

 

From our Community

This section is edited by Faith Harding.

I know you have amazing information to share. Stop thinking about it, and be about it. Send to: fharding@ifbsolutions.org. Make it an awesome week!

Faith

New single from Oryan Battis

Join Oryan Battis in this smooth beat of “Top Floor”. In this rhythmic production, Oryan reminds us how important it is to stay authentic to our self and strive for greatness. Listen, share, and like at:
https://youtu.be/RDFo2DXzXCI

Try Metrolina Association for the Blind Virtual Yoga and Tai Chi Classes, FREE!

Want to try yoga? This class is good for all ages and abilities. You can participate seated in a chair or standing next to one. Click on the Zoom link or One tap mobile, to participate in this great class!

When: Thursday, April 6, 2023 4:00-5:00 pm
Thursday, April 20, 2023 4:00-5:00 pm
Where: Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82937221316?pwd=NlhFUHhMcEVIS2dVdUZTeitzcWJkdz09
Meeting ID: 829 3722 1316
Passcode: 542119
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,82937221316#,,,,*542119# US
+13017158592,,82937221316#,,,,*542119# US (Washington DC)

Join Metrolina Association for the Blind for Apple Support Hour!

If you have ever experienced difficulties using your iPhone, iPad, have questions about using an app, or are curious about how other people are using their devices, then feel free to drop in for the Apple support hour. During the hour, you will have the chance to have your questions answered as well as to learn what challenges other members of the blind and visually impaired community face when using their devices. The meeting will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, April 5th from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. no invitation is needed, just drop in. If you have any questions, contact Doug Curley at mab.iphone.group@gmail.com.

What: Apple support hour
When: Apr 5, 2023 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Where: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84232347646?pwd=akljM3JwQWREVkhUYmRKKzlLQUhTQT09
Meeting ID: 842 3234 7646
Passcode: 375513
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,84232347646#,,,,*375513# US
+13126266799,,84232347646#,,,,*375513#

 

HR & Opportunities

New Job Announcements

For all current openings, visit https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Dash Baseball Dishwasher

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59896&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909
Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59897&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Teacher – Winston Salem

Required Education and work experience:

  • High School Diploma required
  • Bachelors degree in teaching or relevant field is preferred.
  • A minimum of 1 years experience as a teacher is required.

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59618&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909
Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59619&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

BSC Store Clerk MacDill Air Force Base

Education and work experience:

  • High School Diploma
  • No prior experience required

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59572&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909
Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59573&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Customer Service Representative – NC Department of Vital Statistics

Education and work experience:

  • Minimum of 1 year of call center experience preferred.
  • Associates degree or higher in a related field preferred.
  • Ability to speak Spanish preferred.

External candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59400&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909
Internal candidates may apply at https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=59401&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Adult Support Groups Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/99498078576?pwd=ODJzK0sxcXZrME9yN25YRTdiNXBSQT09
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
One tap mobile
+13017158592,99498078576# US (Germantown)

13126266799,99498078576# US
+(Chicago)

Dial by your location.
877 853 5257 US Toll-free
888 475 4499 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576

 

Assistive Technology Support Group Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/94434630872?pwd=aXFYSHYyWkh1SE1tWDNOdDIwVURwUT09

Meeting ID: 944 3463 0872
Passcode: 924496

+13017158592, 99434630872, #, # US (Germantown)

+13126266799, 99434630872, #, # US (Chicago)